Buy a copy of CONTROL!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Is Writing Your Outlet?

Many of us write because we love the creative process. Other like it because we get to play god and manipulate the worlds and lives of our characters. We can experience a fictional first love, first kiss, save a dystopian universe. And of course, we can get lost in the hope of becoming published, a powerful force of motivation.

For these and other reasons, writing can be the ultimate outlet and escape.

Or are you one of those people whose writing is so intense, you need to escape back into the real world to run away from the pressure of imperfect plotlines, creepy characters, and a gazillion revisions?

Which camp do you fall into? Do you need to escape to your writing, or escape from it?

Don't forget to check out this week's blog chain post on Goals! by Laura Diamond!

54
comments:

It's total escapism for me, all the way. Which is why I'm suffering horribly at the moment being separated from my manuscript while I let it sit before another round of revisions. Suffering. Seriously.

My stories and characters come to me by way of dreams in cinematic glory, so I tend to be obsessive until I have recreated the movie (in words) on the laptop. Often as not a figurative painting will lodge in the subconscious and evolve into a story about the people in the image!

I do love writing, and miss my characters like hell when I complete their story, but there are always others to take their place.

Interesting question! I think I need to escape into my writing. Although, I'm always thinking about my stories when I should be living in the tangible world (like at dinner time, or driving the car). So, I guess my answer could be both!

I write because I need to get these stories out of my head. I don't know if I can say it's a form of escape for me--I have reading and TV for that--but sometimes it does get intense enough that I need to walk away from the keyboard. My neighbors probably think I'm nuts - watching me pace the front patio and talk to myself.

I definitely escape TO my writing. On days like today, when I slept in and missed my morning writing time, the universe just seems off. Seriously, those couple of hours I get to write before the day gets started are the best part of my day!

Good question. It is making me think. I believe I'm a bit of both. Right now I am definitely in the please let me escape to my novel phase. But when this draft is done, I'm going to be wanting escape FROM it!

Writing is definitely my outlet - the TYPE of writing is based on my relationship with my novels at the time...when I am freaked out about this biz, I write in my journal until I can "stomach" jumpingback into my story!

Great post! I am in both camps but I cannot go a day without writing. It is most def my escape from reality and a day without my characters just feels... weird. BUT, when I am plotting/before writing, it drives me quite crazy and I sometimes wish I could turn my brain to the "off" position.:)

You know... I think it's both, and it depends on the project and my mood. Sometimes I go to it to escape everything, and other times I have to get away from it to regain some measure of sanity. Eee. I guess that means there's no true escape for me anywhere!

I write to escape reality. The real world is stressful or completely mundane that my writing is my outlet. When I escape into my head and I play with my imaginary friends for a while when I come back to the real world it's with new eyes. I see my daughter in a completely different light and think, "wow, you're a pretty cool kid."

When I need to escape from my writing I normally get trapped by the time vampire known as facebook or twitter.

mmmm i'd say writing is definitely more of an escape for me, but then again, i don't see it as something that tears me away from the real world. i don't hide from the real world, either. i try to maintain a healthy balance.

i love my fictional characters, but i love my real-life characters more :D

Call me weird, but I don't see writing as an escape. I see it as my version of the real world. My thoughts are a part of me, so I don't see them as something that disconnects me from everything else. They just absorb whatever they can and screw it up even more.

It's like a quote I heard in a movie (or a song, or TV show, or something...): "I live my life in my head".

I'd have to say it's both for me. Sometimes the only ting I want to do at the end of a long day of writing is sit down and play video-games, and other times, I want to sit in front of my computer until I fall asleep from writing so intensely! I love it, and sometimes I loath it. :)

Funny question for me actually. I've got two projects on the go at the moment. One is a fast paced women's fiction, not too depressing fun kinda story, the other is a dark and slit your wrists kind of memoir. So, I guess I use my women's fiction to escape the memoir and visa versa depending on my mood. And um ... Oh my life? Where did that go? Who stole it?

Great question! I think it depends on the day and the WIP...I have one that's a total escape - fun to write, I get lost every time I start in. The other I need to escape from, it can get a little intense!

There are days when writing is a joy, and I can't wait to get back to it. Other times I have to make myself sit down in front of the laptop. I think it mostly depends on how well the writing went the last time I wrote.

i'm not a writer but i do journal (unfortunately not as much now as i did back in high school). nowadays i journal mostly to de-stress. if i have a problem, i write about it and afterward i feel better. :)

I think I write to escape to a different time and place. Right now two of the pieces I'm working on are based in England. I think it's because I'm missing my grandparents. They were able to come to the States at least once a year until about 5 years ago when my Nanny's health got worse. I went to see them twice last year, but don't expect to get to go at all this year...Writing about England and their history helps...

I fluctuate. Sometimes it's a complete escape. Then it gets too intense and I find myself crying (because my characters are), raving (because my characters are), etc. I get so wrapped up in them and their world sometimes its hard to differentiate. Then I need to escape back to the real world and watch some mindless TV or something.

Medical Disclaimer

IN NO WAY SHOULD THE CONTENTS OF LYDIAKANG.BLOGSPOT.COM BE CONSIDERED MEDICAL ADVICE. ALL CONTENT ON THE SITE IS GENERAL IN NATURE, AND PROVIDED FOR FICTIONAL SCENARIOS ONLY. NEVER DISREGARD MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY IN SEEKING IT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ OR MAYBE MIS-INTERPRETED ON THIS WEBSITE, OR ANY LINKS RELATED TO IT.

The materials provided on this site are for informational purposes and are not intended for use as diagnosis or treatment of a health problem or as a substitute for consulting a licensed medical professional.

Check with a physician if you suspect you are ill, or believe you may have one of the problems discussed on this website, as many problems and disease states may be serious and even life-threatening.

Also note that medical information changes rapidly. Therefore, some information may be out of date, inaccurate, or erroneous. Neither this blog/website or it author(s) will be responsible for the results or consequences of any attempt to use or adopt any of the information presented on this website.